Mode of Transportation

 Highways - Includes very high accessibility to almost all potential destinations, direct service with very
low door to door travel times, moderate line haul speeds, and moderate capacities
 Urban Transit - Is highly specialized mode
 Air - Includes airlines, airfreight carriers, and general aviation
 Rail - Provides moderate speeds and levels of accessibility, but traditional operating practices, which
involve relatively short between rail yards, where trains are broken up and reassembled, lead to high and
unreliable door to door travel times
 Water - Consists of coastwise ocean shipping and barge lines operating on inland waterways
 Pipelines - Constitutes highly specialized freight transportation system

Urban Transportation Problems / Issues (continuation)

 Environmental Protection – issue on how to lessen the impacts of urban transportation to the
environment
1. Site-Specific Impacts - Related to displacement of residents and business due to construction of
transportation facilities, noise, impacts on wildlife, impacts on water quality, visual impacts,
temporary impacts during construction, and impacts resulting from construction of transportation
facilities in environmentally sensitive areas.
 National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) requires the preparation of
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for any environmentally significant action taken
by the federal government.
2. System-Level Impacts - Such as air quality and energy consumption.
 Clean Air Act – control air pollution. In terms of reducing transportation-related air
pollution, vehicle technology and vehicle maintenance are the main focuses.

 New Technology – issue about developing new technology for the improvement of transportation
Example:
1. Microprocessor signal control system for signalized intersections and ramp metering
2. Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems for traffic surveillance
3. Automatic vehicle control systems for rail rapid transit systems
4. Automatic vehicle location systems
5. Automated screen displays for air traffic control
6. Use of cellular telephone systems for emergency call boxes and in-vehicle communications

 Funding – issue on where to get funds for the construction of new transportation facilities or on
maintaining existing facilities. Fuel taxing and tolls on bridges or express ways are examples of where
government get extra fund for transportation development.

TARROZA, REYNALDO JR. R.

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